Bow for stringed instruments



May 11, 1937. A. MATHA BOW FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 7, 1935 cn neu Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to bows for violins and similar string instruments, wherein the fine hairlike steel or metal strings are removably secured to the bow-tip and the frog by suitable means which will firmly hold the strings in place and also permit quick removal and replacement when occasion requires, without, however, adding any material and undesirable weight to the bow.

My invention has for its object the provision of means whereby the grouped strings will be firmly held in position against the bottom sur faces of the tip and of the frog of the bow without, however, subjecting the strings to improper action or strains; the string holding means being such that the usual bow-tip and bow-frog construe tions may be employed.

The objects of my invention and its inherent advantages will all be readily apparent from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a bow with an intermediate portion broken away and showing my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view in side elevation of the frog end of the bow with a portion of the frog shown in section to illustrate the fastening means at the rear end of the group of strings.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the frog end of the bow, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the bowtip and string fastening means.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the bow-tip with a portion of the tip and the string fastening means in section.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the nose of the bowtip and of the string fastening means.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 6 as viewed by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a portion 0 type and forms no part of my invention further detailed description thereof need not be entered into.

My improved means contemplates the use of metallic strings, preferably steel hair-like wire or strands it, in suitable number. The forward ends of the wires or strands M are secured, preferably by soldering, to what may be termed the inner or top face of the flat plate portion of the bow toe or tip engaging member or yoke l5. Securing the ends of the strings to the toe engaging face of the plate portion of member l5 leaves the lower exposed side without a possible rough surface; then too a more secure fastening of the strings may be obtained by fastening the strings it around the forward edge of the plate portion as more clearly shown in Figure 5; and at the same time the strings are all caused to lie or extend flush with the lower face of the plate portion and held in proper position when the strings are placed under tension.

The forward end of the plate portion of member l5 and at opposite edges is provided with the strap-like portions 56, ll, which are intended to extend about the tip l i of the bow.

The member Iii is preferably made of thin 25 sheet metal of a type which is very light so as to add no perceptible weight to the tip of the bow. One of the strap portions, for example the strap I8, is shown with a slightly enlarged end which is provided with a slit at if! which is adapted to receive the narrow end of strap ll as shown in Figures 7' and 8; the inserted end of the strap I1 is then bent back upon itself beneath the enlarged portion of strap it, where it will lie against the tip and hence prevent all possibility of being pulled out of slit is when the strings [4 are placed under tension. At the same time it is apparent that the straps I6 and IT in conjunction with the plate portion provide a yoke member which may be readily slipped onto or off the toe 'or tip of the bow when it is desired to apply or remove the strings; it being, of course, necessary to release the tension on the strings before it is possible to release the yoke straps from the tip of the bow.

The rear ends of the strings are all properly secured-as by solder-to a thin and fiat metal piece or plate IS; the plate being very light metal and the ends of the strings all secured to one face of the plate. This plate is preferably provided with tapered side edges as shown in Figure 3; that-is to say, the plate becomes narrower toward the forward end of the plate.

The plate I9 is removably held by the sidev flanges 20, 20 of an attaching member 2| which is adapted to extend flush with the lower face of the frog 12 of the bow; the side flanges 20, 20 being bent over the upper face of the member 2| so as to lie against the bottom of the frog.

The forward end of member 2! with its flanges .26 is formed with a taper toward the front end so that the open sided pocket formed by the flanges 2G, 20 becomes narrower toward the front and hence wcdgingly holds the string end plate is against forward movement. When the tension on the strings i4 is sufficiently released through proper manipulation of finger screw member the string plate I!) may then be slid rearwardly from beneath the flanges 20, 20 and thus permit renewal of the strings should occasion require without the necessity of renewing or removing the attaching member 2|,

The rear end of member 2| is bent upwardly upon itself as shown at 22 thereby providing a channel or space between the overlapping end 22 and the body of member 2! to receive the tie wire or loop which is adapted to extend about the rear end of the frog l2 of the bow; the loop 23 being of less transverse dimension than the bottom of the frog i2 so as to fit the narrower portion of the frog l2 and not be permitted to slip down and oi? the frog as is apparent from Figure 1.

The overlapped end 22 of plate or member 2i is slotted as shown at 24 in Figure 3 for passage of the small pin 25 which is driven into the frog ii; the head of the pin 25 being disposed between the overlapped end 22 and the body of member 22 and preferably slightly larger than the width of the slot 24 to assist in holding the member 2| up against the bottom of the frog l2.

'v'vith the pin 25 arranged adjacent the rear end of the member 2! as shown, the member 2| is permitted to slightly swing or pivot about the pin 2 toward one side in the event of any slight inaccuracy in string-length at opposite sides of the group, thus tending to place all of the strings under substantially the same degree of tension.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of a part of a frog 52 and string plate or end holding member a which is formed exactly like member except that the overlapped rear end 22 is not slotted and the frog I 2 is not provided with the pin 25. The member 2 i like in the previously described construction, is removably secured or held against the lower face of the frog by the band or wire loop 23.

With my improved means the strings will be firmly and uniformly held against any improper pivotal or oscillating movement, while permitting an amount of self adjustment.

As is apparent from the constructions shown, the strings and string-holding clips or members may be easily removed and replaced should occasion require; the renewal or replacement being readily ccomplished without need for special skill or tools.

Then too, instead of the metallic strings, horsehair may be used as the ends of the latter may also be secured to the thin metallic plates or terminals and the latter removably secured to the bow-tip and to the frog of the bow; the invention residing in the fastening means or elements for holding the strings removably in place; and while the constructions shown and described are believed to be the best embodiments of the invention, modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:-

1. In a bow for string instruments, bow-strings whose opposite ends are fixedly secured to thin metallic plates, the plate at one end being provided at opposite edges with bow-tip encircling extensions whose free ends are formed to have interengaging relation; a fiat member adapted to extend flush with the bottom of the frog of the bow and formed to provide an exposed smooth surface and provided with an open-ended pocket adapted to receive the plate secured to the rear ends of the strings while the strings extend through the open end of the pocket; and means pivotally secured to the member whereby the lat ter is removably secured to the frog.

2. In a bow for string instruments, bow-strings whose opposite ends are fixedly secured to thin flat plates, one of the plates being provided at its forward end at opposite edges with adjustable bow-tip encircling extensions formed to have tongue and slot interengaging relation; a member adapted to extend flush with the bottom of the frog of the bow and provided at its forward end with an open-ended pocket disposed lengthwise of the frog and adapted to receive the plate s cured to the rear ends of the strings; and a yoke member pivotally secured to the rear end of the member and adapted to encircle the rear end of the frog for removably securing said first member in place.

3. In a bow for string instruments, bow-strings whose opposite ends are immovably secured to fiat sheet metal plates, the plate at one end being tapered toward one end While the plate at the other end has a pair of forwardly disposed integral extensions adapted to extend about the tip of the bow, the one extension having an aperture to receive the end of the other extension, whereby the strings are removably secured to the bow-tip; a sheet metal member adapted to extend flush with the bottom of the frog of the bow, the forward end being formed to provide an openended pocket tapering toward the forward open end and adapted to slidingly receive the string holding tapered plate through the rear end of the pocket; and a yoke member pivotally secured to said sheet metal member and adapted to extend about the rear end of the frog of the bow for removably securing the strings to the frog.

4. In a bow for string instruments, the combination with the bow having a tip at one end and an adjustable frog at the other end; a plurality of strings; a tip engaging fiat plate to which the forward ends of the strings are immovably secured, said plate at opposite side edges having integral forwardly and upwardly disposed extensions adapted to extend across the forward nose of the tip, the ends of said extensions being formed to have interengaging relation with each other and adapted to hold the plate portion with the attached strings in non-twisting relation with the bottom of the bow-tip; a tapered flat plate to which the rear ends of the strings are secured; a plate holding member disposed on the lower face of the frog with its forward end tapered and the side marginal portions bent back upon the member to provide a tapered plate receiving open ended pocket while the rear end of the member is substantially coextensive with the width of the bottom face of the frog and folded back upon itself; and a loop pivotally held at one end between the folded back portion of said plate holding member while the other end is adapted to fit about the rear end of the frog and the member with said tapered plate held against the bottom of the frog.

5. In a bow for string instruments, a plurality of strings, a flat plate to which the forward ends of the strings are fixedly secured, the forward opposite edges of the plate having forwardly and upwardly extending strap portions adapted to fold about the nose of the bow-tip with the ends of said portions formed to have interlocking relation with each other; a flat tapered plate to which the other ends of the strings are fixedly secured; a flat plate holding member disposed along the bottom of the frog of the bow, the forward end being formed to provide a forwardly tapered pocket adapted to hold said tapered plate against the bottom of the frog of the bow; and a link pivotally secured to the rear end of said member and adapted to extend about the rear end of the frog and tomaintain the member substantially parallel with the frog.

6. In a bow for string instruments, a plurality of strings, terminal plates to which the ends of the strings are fixedly secured, the terminal plate at the forward ends being substantially coextensive with the width of the tip of the bow and provided at opposite edges with integral and upwardly disposed pliable extensions adapted to pass about the forward part of the tip and the ends of said extensions formed to have interengaging relation, while the terminal plate at the rear ends tapers forwardly; a fastening member provided at its forward end with an open ended forwardly converging pocket; adapted to slidingly receive said tapered terminal plate, the rear end of said fastening member having a swiveled loop adapted to extend along opposite sides and about the rear of the frog of the bow so as to effect a uniform rearward pulling action on the string terminal member.

ALBERT MATHA. 

